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Post subject: Fender Frontman, SCXD or G-Dec ?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:16 am
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Hi there 8)
Guitar played: Strat American Standard
Music style: Neil Young, Eagles, Red Hot Chili Pepper, bit blues....

Looking for an amp to be played in an appt in town. Budget $500. I bought the Roland Micro Cube RX but returned it; just didnt give me the sound I wanted in the end, and it gave me an incredible buzz at pickup 1,3,5 Yucky...

Looked online reviews and specs for:
1. Frontman 25, Solid State, like the headphones bit.
2. Super Champ XD, Tube amp with DSP, no headphones (too bad for night time)
3. G-Dec, Solid State, dont know if I will like or use all this computer stuff, headphones bit.

If its such a big improvement, Im willing to dish out the $750 for a Blues Jr but Im just starting out on the electric, at the same time, I dont want to switch in a year either - know what I mean.

Read reviews; everybody's got their favorites I know, and there s good and bad in every model, so very confusing. But to get a nice sound and tone at low volume, optimally headphones and portability to go to the cottage. But most importantly a nice sound for my strat for the kind of music I want to play.
Any suggestions out there please - thanks you guys :D


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:19 am
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Except for the lack of headphonejack, I would highly recommend the SuperChamp XD.
I have one and love it. One of the nice things is, that with the DSP voices, you can get your overdriven and distorted sounds at low volumes. And the built in effects add to the portability - you don't have to drag around a pedal board.

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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 11:22 am
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I also highly recommend the SCXD. It has a lot of the sounds you want. And then some more you might want later. The effects are good to play around with, but anybody serious about an effect should get a pedal.

The volumes can go quite low with proper adjustments, but be careful switching channels. Some of the voices are louder than others. But when you want to turn it up, it is surprising. It blew me away the first time I did, and I have been in trouble with the wife a few times about the volume.

If you want a little less amp for a little less money, look at the Vibro Champ XD. It has everything that the SCXD has without the clean channel. But the clean is very nice, Classic Blackface.

Also expect to replace the pre-amp tube, not a big deal really. Just bring it back for servicing before the tube warranty is up.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:19 pm
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It's important to consider how dedicated you are to playing guitar, the varying enviroments you will be playing in down the road & do I have the right equipment. I have solid state amps (practice amps) that are fine for my friends & I to gather around & just play. I too live in an apartment. I also have a tube amp that is 60 watts & plenty power when my guitar needs to be part of a larger sound. Considering your budget, you are so close to making the best investment in a tube amp. Your abilities will grow so don't comprimise your sound with solid state amps. Be patient, take it to the next level. Consider the folowing Fender tube amps in your price range: Fender Deluxe VM 40 watts 1 x 12" speaker w/effects $695.99, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 40 watts 1 x 12" speaker $774.99 or the one I own, the Fender Hot Rod Deville 410 60 watts 4 x 10" speakers. All these amps are on sale at Guitar Center. Check the specs on this web site. Think Big! Have Fun! PS I play an acoustic Takemine thru the Deville. It's so clean it's sick.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:43 pm
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I'd go with the Champ. Especially if your just starting out. Owning a Hot Rod Deluxe, I wouldn't recommend any of the Hot Rod series. I have a GDec 30. It's a good practice tool, but you won't get a good tone out of it. I practice with it. It is what it is, a good practice tool. Sometimes I wish I bought the Line 6 Jam instead. I'm not into a bunch of effects anyway.

Next step up, I'd go with a Deluxe Reverb Reissue. If you get great equipment from the start, it will last a really long time. I have a silver face Twin that I've had for 35 years and is reliable as the Sun coming up in the morning. I've had no luck at all with the HRDlx and neither have many of my friends who bought and dumped them a short time later.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:50 pm
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+1 on the SCXD.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:31 pm
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Personally, i would check out the Blues jr.There are many of us here that have been playing for a while and still used the bjr.If you are willing to use pesals , it is one versitle amp.The scxd is a decent choice.If you are willing to plop down enough money for an American strat,do yourself a favor and get a decent amp.Tonally the Frontman and the G-dec arent in the same league as the SCXD and the Blues jr.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 10:27 pm
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+1 on the SCXD.

I'm very happy with mine. But I don't play out, just around the house and on the porch.

Gil 8)

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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:45 pm
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+1.....scxd for sure,it will be the only amp you will ever want,i line mine out with the band and it is just as good and loud as the fender big brothers!!!

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